MEXICAN COP WITH REPUTED MOB LINKS FOUND STRANGLED

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - A former senior official with reputed strong links
to one of Mexico's most infamous drug cartels was found strangled in his
home in the northern border city of Tijuana, newspapers reported on Sunday.

Francisco Fiol Santana, former head of homicide for the Tijuana police,
was accused in 1994 of helping one of the Arellano Felix brothers -- who
run one of the bloodiest drug cartels in Latin America -- to flee while in
detention.

Local newspapers said Fiol had been tortured before he was killed. His body
was found early on Saturday.

Local police were not available to comment on the reports.

Fiol allegedly allowed Francisco Javier and a deputy to escape, and then
fled with them. He was arrested in September 1994 after six months on the
run and spent four years in jail. His brother, Ramon Eduardo, is on the
U.S. FBI's 10 most wanted list.

The killing comes less than two months after Tijuana police chief Alfredo
de la Torre was gunned down in broad daylight in what many suspect was a
drug-related shooting. His record was believed to be clean.